Friday, July 31, 2009

What the heck's taking so much of my time nowadays? I really can't phanthom why but 24 hours a day just seemed too short. I'm not bitching about any life grievances coz there isn't any in the first place. Life is so beautiful to me, much more nowadays that I can't have enough. That's why I want more time in a day!

Of late, I have not been reading the newspapers regularly as I used to. If I do find a chance, I'll do a quick run through on the most current goings-on. However, since I've taken a day off yesterday to run some personal errand, I actually had some time to kill amid the rush for time. T'was then I chanced upon this article in The Star Metro "Is Your Heart In The Right Place?" by Seow Bee Leng from Continuum Learning. It talks about the importance of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) in our career, both as the employee and the employer.

EQ is a set of skills that allows us to control our emotions through self-awareness, self-discipline and empathy. A quality relationship, whether between kins, acquaintances or co-workers, requires this primary skills. According to the author of "Emotional Intelligence", Daniel Goleman; 90% of the difference between a 'good leader' and an 'excellent leader' is attributed to EQ. The primary reason people leave a job is relationship-based which boils down to the quality of the relationship between the employee and the employer.

What triggered my interest to read on was the fact that there is a high employee turnover in my current organisation. Having spent almost 10 years here and particularly in human resource, I dare conclude that it is due to the serious lack of awareness of EQ in the leadership of the organisation. The panacea for good leadership, "to lead by example" needs to go both ways, down-up and likewise, up-down. But to only achieve one direction means nothing to the success of an organisation, what more to retain a workforce that are emotionally engaged for the betterment of the organisation. As the leadership guru Richard Leider had to say, "People don't leave companies, they leave leaders" only points so precisely to this crisis that has been hampering the company's ability to sustain employee loyalty and retention as well as productivity.

My personal plan was to extend my services to this organisation until my retirement beckons. However, with so many failed attempts to build an awareness in the leadership of the company to deploy an EQ-positive climate, it appears that I too have come to the end of the road. I have been incapacitated to remain emotionally engaged for the organisation. My only concern now is to maintain as a role model to my subordinates while I seek for a fresh start elsewhere.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

I like to describe myself as a outgoing and friendly person. How accurate am I, I'll just leave to you, my fellow bloggers and readers to decide. What's important to me is the never-ending friendships that I have garnered ever since I entered into the blogosphere. Not a day goes by without us touching the lives of another. No doubt we've never met and perhaps we never will, but we still connect with one another all the same, from all corners of the world.

While researching on the net, I found the above image that carries a warm meaning to the word 'friendship' that ought to be shared.While we're still on the topic of friendship, I'd like to thank Bing from Sheepish Thoughts for sharing her "Major Award" with me. The originating rules to this award may be lost but thanks to Kat of Soy Wax Candles, it is now an admirable award to anyone who likes to smile and laugh. So just to spread it along in the blogosphere.

As for me, I would love to share this award with a few of my fellow bloggers who enjoy making others smile or laugh. They are:-

Monday, July 27, 2009

"Like attracts like" ... that's the basics of the Law of Attraction. It is a mysterious law of the universe which works alongside our thoughts and emotions. We can attract anything we want and anything we fear most, in whatever form. Material wealth or spiritual wealth or physical and emotional health.

Would you like to be making friends who are your support network, the people you learn from and enjoy fun times with? Attracting and maintaining healthy relationships will give our life the balance we need and deserve. Living a balanced life is the best way to de-stress.

As with human relationship, this mysterious law can work its wonders too in attracting the right people into our support network ... positive and healthy people. Please bear in mind we are not referring to physical health here but rather spiritual and emotional health. "Like attracts like" meaning positive people attract positive people, mature people attract mature people, healthy people attract healthy people (healthy minds) or the other way round.

We connect constantly with all sorts of people every day. We should be aware of what kind of people we want to be with. Likewise, we should be the kind of person we want to be with too. If we chooses to connect with people who are positive and healthy, we must be one ourselves. Else, we will just attract the opposites.

Most people are unwilling to stretch themselves beyond what they are accustomed to or to thread on unfamiliar grounds. Change and improvements can only materialised when we see the necessity to pushed ourselves out of our comfort zone. If we are left alone to our own devices, we will probably be just contented with the way things are or continue with our grouses day in day out. Fear, of course, plays it part too to interfere with our choices.

Therefore, if we want to be in the company of someone who is spiritually and emotionally mature, we have to first possess these qualities ourselves. If we continue to attract the opposite, then it's high time we do some honest self-evaluation.

Think outside the box and start taking initiatives to be a positive and healthy person. Being around positive and healthy people serves to elevate our level of appreciation towards life ... GRATITUDE. With gratitude, we become at peace with ourselves. With gratitude, we allow the mysterious law of the universe to orchestrate our desired abundances onto our path.

It happened right in our neighbourhood in Kota Kemuning just after lunch-time. Both Nick and the other driver was negotiating a roundabout. Nick was on the inner lane (right lane) going 12 o'clock while the other driver was on the outer lane (left lane) intending to go 3 o'clock. Luckily, no damaged on Nick's car but the other driver claimed she couldn't open her side of the door. Who's right and who's wrong here?

The other driver was adamant that she had the right of way and was hopping mad as I was trying to discuss with her over the phone. Thank God, Uncle Steven popped by to help Nick out. They exchanged their details and contacts for subsequent discussion when both Ray and I got home.

To the best of my knowledge on road use, I'm sure no one takes the outer lane at the roundabout when intending to turn-off at 3 o'clock unless on calculated risk. She should have been on the left lane. Moreover, Nick said she was trying to cut in front of him by just giving a honk! Legally, she should be summoned. However, in the eyes of the law, I believed there was a slight negligence on Nick's part. He should not have assumed that she is definitely going 12 o'clock too. All my reminders to him to be a 'defensive driver' was thrown out the window! We can never tell what other road-users are thinking of or whatever's their last minute intention. We need to be alert for any possibilities. EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED!

Ray and I met up with the lady and her husband at their workshop this afternoon. Upon inspecting, I found her claimed damages too highly exaggerated. In fact, if it's my car, I wouldn't even bother to repair. The mechanic had informed me that he had just replaced the same fender for her a few weeks earlier. Anyway, all of us agreed to bear 50:50 of that simple repair which came to $300. It beats having to make a police report coz she would definitely be summoned while Nick would have a high possibility of being summon too for his carelessness. Being still a probationary driver, he would further incur demerit points. Then, there'll be the hassles of red tapes making a police report.

By the way, I just found out that my spare tyre cover is going to cost me about $300-$400 for a new replacement. What a SHOCKING discovery! It's just a simple cover and I had thought of not claiming the other driver. Ray was fuming at me for not wanting to claim even if it had only cost $30. According to him, other people like in Nick's case had NO MERCY at all to claim and yet I was like 'tidak apa' ... a never mind attitude ... and it was clearly not my fault.

Stucked out my tongue and dutifully called the other driver who was equally shocked at the amount. Anyhow, he was a man of his word and banked-in $350 into my account as promised.The world is actually a beautiful place with lots of beautiful people. Whatever happened, hostility is never the right choice. Stay calm and discuss as civil adults and an amicable solution will be easy. Things happened because we attracted them through our thoughts and actions. Let's take responsibility for our part and be grateful that it had not been worst.

Friday, July 24, 2009

T'was 6.00 pm! Time to go home. The plan's to run at least 2 laps round the Kota Kemuning Lake this evening.

I was right at the junction near my office, just about to turn left and I noticed this car speeding in my direction from the left. I put on the brake quite abruptly and ... BANG! Someone else has hit me in the REAR!!

Got down immediately to inspect the damage ... phewwwwww!!! No serious damages, only the spare tyre cover was broken. I'm driving a 10-year-old Kembara (a Malaysian-made 4-wheel drive) and the spare tyre at the back must have absorb the impact. Apart from a slightly misaligned bumper, all seemed to be okay ... I'm so surprised. Thank God!

The driver of the other car got down too and was very apologetic. He offered to pay for the damages ... of course, he's still in the wrong for knocking into my rear. We exchange our personal details and continued on our journey home.

Now I've got no a spare tyre cover. Put on a new and it'll probably look very odd, being new and so shiny. Probably get a canvas cover instead. This'll be very cheap. So, what's there for that chap to pay ... 'sek chi kei lor!' ... meaning fork-out my own money ... arghhhhhh!!!

It was only the night before that I was talking to Nick about bumper to bumper accidents. I'd admonished him many times before for driving too fast and risk such accidents. Guess these negative thoughts just backfired on me!

Don't call it unlucky or coincidence. It's just simply the law of the universe at work ... whatever you delve persistently in your thoughts, you attract the same to you. THE LAW OF ATTRACTION WORKS! In this case, my negative thoughts has worked against me ... hahaha!!!

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

“THE STRENGTH OF OTHERS INSPIRES ME!”… is this not possible? Time and again, many seemed to be so spontaneously driven into action after witnessing other achievers of great feats or those who overcame personal tragedies. Does this affirmation fit right into the fundamentals of the Law of Attraction? Yes, it definitely do!

A basic fundamental of the Law of Attraction says that we need clarity of our desires in order that we may be able to create a mind movie with ourselves being part of it. But that’s not all of it! We don’t sit around and wait for our mind pictures to turn into reality. We don’t just wait for everything to fall into place without any efforts. We need to take some actions that will lead us onto the right path.

Fear breeds uncertainty and takes a front seat whenever we decide to make changes in our life. We want to, yet we are afraid to until we see others doing it! “If they can do it, why can’t I?” We spring into action, all charged up and motivated to take the first plunge towards change … this is clearly inspired action in motion.“THE STRENGTH OF OTHERS INSPIRES ME!” reminds us to humble ourselves and look to others who have triumphed in the face of adversities or hardships. We gratefully allow ourselves to be wrapped in their strengths to propel us into action.

CAUTION! As with any actions, let’s make sure that we take the right kind of inspired actions. The right actions do not put us into a constant struggle with whatever we wish to achieve. Our journey to achieve our desires may not be smooth sailing but at least we sail with the wind and not against it. This is where the next fundamental of the Law of Attraction need to be heeded i.e. allowing our intentions to happen … have faith in ourselves and remove all doubts. Create feel good affirmations for ourselves to keep us in good spirit every day and over time, the universe will respond in its own ways to bring experiences into our life. We might meet someone or read something, apparently by chance or experience other things which will open doors of opportunities for us.

REMEMBER! We need to be alert for these opportunities and receive them when they come knocking on our door. Act on hunches and intuitions, learn to trust our feelings and the actions we take will be natural and effortless that will lead us to the fulfillment of our intentions.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Friday, July 17, 2009

I am so so so TIRED this few days! But I must ... I must share the many surprises that had arrive at my doorstep for the past week. I just don't know where to begin. So I guess I'll just follow the chronological turns of events then.

8 July 2009:I was so surprised to received a call requesting me to attend a job interview. I did not applied for it but they had seek me out due to the suitability of my vast working experience. I attended the interview the very next evening and have been requested to attend a second interview next week. It is an international company with offices worldwide and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the best outcome.

13 July 2009:Received a call from Mike, remember the trainer from our local gym ... the handsome young chap I wrote about sometime back? Looks like I'm set to move a step forward in starting my own little business. Although I'll just be freelancing for now, thanks alot Mike for the business intro. If the potential clients are agreeable with my offered package, I'll be kinda busy with this project for the next 3 months. I'm definitely putting in my best effort ... surely wouldn't want to disappoint my clients. I've roped in my friend Cheryl into this venture and as I've mentioned to her yesterday, I hope I'm not putting too many things into my hat.

15 July 2009:Remember my misfortune recently at the hands of this bald salesman, Andy. I received their official response and thank God, it was not a hoax when they agreed to refund to me the 500 bucks. I'm supposed to collect the refund on Sunday, afterwhich I shall write to the tribunal to close my complaint and cancel the hearing set for 30 July 2009.

16 July 2009:It's not always that I get to received awards but I was dumbfounded when I received an Elite Blog Artist Award from Abigail Miraflores of "Life Is Random So Am I". Friends, irrespective how our friendships were developed, are great treasures to us and what more, friends who keep us in their thoughts always. I've made many friends through blogging and it's impossible for me to share with all for this award. However, in time, with each award I receive, I shall not forget those I've not included today. For now, it's truly a pleasure to share this award with Anne, Eugene, Nick, Pinklady, Shaunie and Vishal. Dear Friends ... have a great day ahead!

The Law of Attraction certainly WORKS!!! I'm enjoying the adventures in my life these days and it feels so wonderfully great with all the positive things coming my way. They just make the bad stuffs seem so insignificant!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

There was a man who had worked all of his life and had saved all of his money. He was a real miser when it came to his money. He loved money more than just about anything, and just before he died, he said to his wife, "Now listen, when I die, I want you to take all my money and place it in the casket with me. I wanna take my money to the afterlife."

So he got his wife to promise him with all her heart that when he died, she would put all the money in the casket with him.

Well, one day he died. He was stretched out in the casket, the wife was sitting there in black next to her closest friend. When they finished the ceremony, just before the undertakers got ready to close the casket, the wife said "Wait just a minute!" she had a shoe box with her, she came over with the box and placed it in the casket.

Then the undertakers locked the casket down and rolled it away.

Her friend said, "I hope you weren't crazy enough to put all that money in the casket."

She said, "Yes, I promised. I'm a good christian, I can't lie. I promised him that I was going to put that money in that casket with him."

"You mean to tell me you put every cent of his money in the casket with him?"

"I sure did" said the wife. "I got it all together, put it into my account and I wrote him a check."

Sunday, July 12, 2009

The Big Blue Marble ... Earth ... the place we live and enjoy the many wonders of God's creations. Are God's creations on Earth only meant for me and me alone? Do we need to be selfish or can we share all the abundance amongst friends and foes? I would like to think that the big blue marble is more than enough for everyone ... you and me.

That' why my affirmation of the week was "This World Is Mine! And Yours, And Yours, And Yours. More For All And Less For None!"

As usual, I was the 'self-appointed' photographer at the McDonald's Olympic Day Run this morning, held at Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur. Droves of courageous people turned up for the run, young and old, new and old faces ... all came with a believe that they can do it! A 7km run, a 5km run ... they are determine to reach the finish line. Catch their pics at Kota Kemuning Pacers.

While taking these shots, it is amazing to see how everyone of us can so easily share this time and space together, irrespective of race and religion ... 'ONE MALAYSIA' ... and yet, within the smaller units of society ... at home or the workplace or community, people still fight for their own selfish gains. Why?

Pondering on this, I must say that I'm so proud of Kota Kemuning Pacers, the up and coming running network in my neighbourhood. It has brought together people from all walks with differing characters and attitudes through one common desire ... to stay fit and healthy through one passion, Running. It's so awesome that these people could so generously extend their friendship and support to one another without hesitation.

Anziariq Anuar, this one's for you! You have so unselfishly forego your finisher medal today in order to lend your support to your fellow runner. Not only she's grateful, we all are! Kota Kemuning Pacers will definitely grow in leaps with you as one of its member.